Horrorscape by Nenia Campbell
Second in the Horrorscape Trilogy
5 stars
Val barely got away with her life last time and it looks like she’ll have to fight again if she wants to survive. Val receives another card very similar to the ones her stalker used to send. Is he back or is it all in her head? Val’s friends have been invited to a party and this party is all about games. Games that kids play with a deadly twist and the game host seems all too familiar to Val. The games are beginning and who will lose their life? This book was captivating and horrifying and intense. Horrorscape will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning every single page in hopes of what happens next. The games that Gavin plays are much higher in this book and the story is a lot darker. The atmosphere was dark and depressing and completely horrifying. I’ve never had such fun reading about a game before. The Hunger Games are fun and scary, but the games in Horrorscape are much more real and you never know what crazies lurk around the corner with the mind of Gavin.
The main female character is Val. I really like Val. She’s a damaged character and she can be naïve and stupid but it’s because she’s been traumatized.
"It’s very strange. You fall for my traps over and over, and never seem to learn from your mistakes.”
I’m not going to lie sometimes Val was like a dumb character in a horror movie who falls right into the serial killer’s trap and she did fall into each one. She also found ways to get out.
I really liked her quick resourcefulness out of fear. I like how Campbell shows that when people are scared they do things to protect themselves in hopes of survival without even realizing (i.e. the lamp scene).
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 8
The main male character is Gavin.
"Power was a valuable commodity precisely because it was so difficult to obtain, and even more difficult to use- effectively, that is.”
He is truly scary. I’ve never been so scared of a character before and even though he scares me I love his POV and his insane games.
"Don’t play with things you don’t understand. They might play back, perhaps far better than you.”
I looked forward to the scenes he is present and he always present even when he’s not there in this book.
Swoon Worthy Scale: NO!
Villain Scale: 10
There are a lot more characters in this novel. There’s Val’s longtime friend, Lisa, her current boyfriend, James, James’s friend, Blake, Jason, Charlie, and some other kid who I don’t remember. Lisa has always been there for Val and she seemed like a good friend, but as the book progressed Lisa became more of a spiteful friend. She didn’t really seem to be as there for Val as it seemed and by the end of the book I didn’t like her as much as I used to because of her actions. James annoyed me even in his brief appearances in Fearscape and now I just really didn’t like him. He was a jerk and I didn’t like him at all. Blake was my favorite of Val’s friends. He was a good guy and he was genuine. Charlie and Jason were just crazy and Gavin probably picked them up at the Crazy Psychos Club.
Character Scale: 8
"You won the battle last time, my dear, but ultimately you lost the war. This time, you win nothing. I’ll make sure of it.”
The creepiness was much more amped up in this novel. There’s people talking to corpses, weird rooms, crazy people, and Gavin (can’t get much scarier than him). Everything was in this novel was just as good as or better than Fearscape. This is one series and author you won’t want to miss. Campbell knows how to evoke fear and make a captivating story that is sure to satisfy fans of thrillers, horror, and anyone looking for something different.
Cover Thoughts: I really like the covers for this trilogy. Particularly this one.
Terrorscape by Nenia Campbell
Third in the Horrorscape Trilogy
5 stars
Val has tried to put the past behind her. She has a new name and is starting at a new college. She’s trying to move on with her life, but she knows that one day Gavin will come back for her. She knows he won’t let her go this time. I hate finishing great series. I really do. The Horrorscape Trilogy is one of my favorite series and I’m glad I’ve been able to experience such absolute horror but love every second of it. Terrorscape is hands down my favorite of the trilogy. It’s darker and not as faced paced as the previous novel, but everything is much more chilling.
The main female character is, once again, Val. Val is at the darkest point a person can go. She’s a truly broken person. She’s experienced death and danced with a killer. She can’t catch a break. Val is a character I’ve enjoyed reading about. It’s sad to see Val go from the happy teen who loved animals to a broken girl who feels like death is the easiest way out, but doesn’t want to die. Her character growth has been haunting, but also enjoyable. I think Nenia does a great job with capturing the beauty of a damaged person.
Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 8
The main male character is Gavin. Gavin is crazier than he’s ever been. There were those few brief moments were I loved Gavin, but he always says something and it just reminds me of how crazy he is. Gavin is a character who will stay with me forever. He’s a true psycho. He’s sadistic, calculating, cold, and empty. I loved every second of it! Maybe that makes me crazy but I loved his craziness.
Swoon Worthy Scale: No, thanks.
Villain Scale: 10
There were a few characters in this novel. Val’s roommate, her potential boyfriend, and a copycat of Gavin. I liked what all of them brought into the novel. Did I love them? No, but I liked what they brought to Val’s world and their characters interaction with her.
Character Scale: 7.5
That ending… I still can’t get over it. I’m so shocked and just I don’t know what to do. I want to say so much more, but I don’t want to give anything away. I adore this trilogy! It was brilliant and don’t miss the chance to read it. Sadly, Terrorscape was pulled off of Amazon but you can buy it on Smashwords. On the bright side, Nenia is writing an epilogue of sorts to the trilogy and I can’t wait to read it!
Bonus: Nenia was amazing to include two short stories and a short essay in the novel. The first short story is about Gavin’s parents and I think that Gavin gets most of his psychosis from his mother. The second was about Gavin’s sister and him. Incest… gross. Plus Gavin’s sister is just plain disgusting. Gavin’s essay that was mentioned in Fearscape is featured. It’s quite brief and disturbing.
Cover Thoughts: I love the cover. It’s scary and if that’s what I pictured Gavin to look like. His eyes are horrifying.
Thank you Nenia for providing me with a copy of this book! I’m so glad I won your giveaway and I feel honored to have won it.
I checked out your review of the first installment. Holy cow! I can easily see this play out like a movie, but reading it would make the suspense and fear last longer. The covers are really spot on too. I think Athina at Between My Lines might enjoy this series. I'll have to mention it to her.
ReplyDeleteIt is very suspenseful and a lot like a movie in that way. I hope she enjoys it!
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